We all know that reading to our children every night is important for their overall reading comprehension, but the content of the books we read also teaches our children important lessons. It’s also helpful.
Respecting the earth, including plants and animals, and being careful about consumption are all important lessons for children. Although these topics may sound sophisticated to children, they are actually quite simple and are covered in many children’s books.
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Many books give you the opportunity to talk to children about these concepts. Here are some favorites for boys and girls with a variety of interests.
“The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein
of giving tree It provides easy-to-understand lessons for young children about consumption and environmental protection. The tree gives the boy all parts of himself throughout his life. After reading this book, talk to your children about consumption and respect for nature. You can discuss how nature plays a role in our daily lives, from what we eat (apples in the book) to our homes.
Dr. Seuss’s Lorax
Although this book was written in 1971, the environmental lessons are lorax It still rings true today. The book also deals with consumerism, deforestation, and even environmental pollution. If you’ve seen the movie version, be sure to read the even more powerful version of the book. Discussions of this book can be adapted for children of all ages.
Blueberries for Monkeys by Robert McCloskey
This may not seem like a logical choice since it was written in 1948, but… monkey blueberry There are environmental lessons on every page. Monkey and his mother go to the forest to pick blueberries for the winter. While out, they encounter several other animals, including a baby bear and its mother who are eating blueberries in preparation for winter. It’s easy to teach even young children about food chains and nature by discussing the monkey’s adventures.
Little Pirates: Why Recycle?Artist: IKids
Little Pirate: Why recycle? is a great resource to help explain to children what the recycling process is and why we do it. Many children enjoy reading about how things work and why we do the things we do. This book is perfect for children who want to “practice”. Enjoy the interactive feel of book pop-ups and other features you can interact with on each page.
Emeraldlicious by Victoria Khan
Many girls love Pinkaricas books. emeraldlicious Perfect for budding environmentalists who love pink. In this book, Khan teaches environmental lessons in the quirky way that only a pink princess can. When Pinkalicious is at the park with his brother, he uses his magic wand to turn trash into new stuff, eventually cleaning up the trash-filled park.
Look for environmental messages in other children’s books you’ve read. You’d be surprised how many books have simple messages that you can share with your kids.
Which children’s book would you add to the list? Share your comments.
Featured images provided: yellow
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on October 3, 2014 and updated in December 2024.
